A meeting of the SIP Advisory Panel to the Air Pollution Control Board of Jefferson County was called to order June 12, 2001, at 1:39 p.m. in the Board Room of the Air Pollution Control District, 850 Barret Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky, by the Chairman, Pat Moran, Rohm and Haas.

The following members were present: Bill Herron, City Public Works; Judith McCandless, KY Conservation Committee; Jonathan Miller, DuPont Dow Elastomers; Kathy Matheny, County Judge/Executive’s Office; Randy Simon, KIPDA; Alex Talbott, Attorney; Steve Wilborn, KY Petroleum Council; and Malcolm Winsper, Kentucky Motorcycle Association. There was not a quorum.

The following District staff were present: Art Williams, Jon Trout, Gayle Ballard, Doug Spillman, Deborah Donaldson, Cynthia Lee, Barry Zalph, Phyllis Fitzgerald, Art Chang, Diane Hazellief, Martha Gammons, and Helen Harman.

New Business

Mr. Trout discussed briefly that the proposed approval of the Louisville 1-hour ozone redesignation request should appear in the Federal Register within the next few weeks. There are a few outstanding issues that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has with our redesignation request. The response and comment document is being reviewed internally. There is one regulation that needs to be adopted by the District. It is Regulation 6.49 Standards of Performance for Reactor Processes and Distillation Operations Processes in the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry, which is scheduled for a public hearing on Wednesday, June 20. The EPA will also be taking final action to approve the regulations included in the 15% plan into the Kentucky State Implementation Plan.

B. Ozone Monitoring Update

Mr. Chang discussed and distributed copies of the 8-hr Ozone Monitoring Report. There have been five exceedances reported this year. Today is an Ozone Action Day and there is another one scheduled for tomorrow. Mr. Williams said that if Jefferson County has a bad ozone season this year it could complicate the EPA’s approval of our redesignation request.

Mr. Chang discussed and distributed copies of the May 2001 PM_2.5 monthly average and year-to-date annual average summary. The month of May averaged 16.8 µg/m³. The annual PM_2.5 standard is 15.0 µg/m³. During the past 29 months, the average was 17.1 µg/m³ . The District will be receiving speciation monitors in October which can analyze the chemical composition of pollutants and help staff identify sources.

Mr. Trout discussed that the EPA is in the process of developing guidance on the implementation of the 8-hour ozone standard.

Ms. Donaldson said that Kentuckiana Ozone Pollution Coalition (KOPC) held its annual kick-off meeting at Churchill Downs on May 11. The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) Ozone BUSter season kick-off was June 1 with 25-cent fares until the end of September. The KOPC is having a walk for asthma with the American Lung Association on June 23 at the Kentucky Kingdom. KOPC is working with the education specialist for the Kentucky State Fair Board. Next year’s theme is land and the Fair Board is working with Ms. Donaldson to incorporate air quality in next year's State Fair. Homes Magazine has agreed to include an ad for KOPC. Today's Woman has agreed to include an ad in its July 1 publication. The Health Fitness Newspaper has contacted Ms. Donaldson about publishing an article for its July 1 newspaper.

A letter was sent to 165 day care facilities that have more than 100 children each requesting that the directors work with the children to better understand air quality. A similar letter will be sent to nursing homes. An informational bookmarker has been designed for distribution to all of the local libraries. A public information agency will be selected in the fall to help with the KOPC program for schools.

Ms. Lee reported that the original Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) alternative fuels grant was closed out at the end of calendar year 2000. The new $432,000 Kentuckiana Air Education (KAIRE) grant, funded by the Federal Highway Department, is aimed at such projects as community education, children’s education, and commuter choice handbooks. Adult and Teen Car Care and Maintenance, and KOPC, will be part of these educational programs. Children will learn of projects affecting their health and the adults will be taught how to help their children. Mr. Winsper asked how much ozone has been reduced by the TARC BUSter Program. Mr. Williams estimated that TARC had about 300,000 additional riders during the four-month period last year. It was suggested that Mr. Barker from TARC be invited to report on the 25-cent program.

Mr. Williams said that the District has participated in this project for the past year relating to land use. Mr. Zalph said that the District, working with the Planning Commission, is encouraging, among several initiatives, space for bicycling, walking, and tree preservation. New work currently underway is landscaping and tree planting. Planting trees absorbs ozone and helps keep down the dust.

Ms. Fitzgerald said that gas-powered lawnmowers and similar equipment are significant sources or air emissions. She encouraged landscaping instead with wildflowers, rock gardens, and Japanese gardens because the emissions from one hour of mowing equals those of an estimated 40 vehicles on the road for one hour. Jefferson County Public Schools is trying this approach as are individual homeowners. The Metropolitan Sewer District has been trying this approach for several years. The District will be starting to recognize individuals and businesses who use this approach by having pictures of the landscapes, arranged by ZIP codes, posted on the APCD web site.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, 2001, at 1:30 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

________________________________
Patrick J. Moran
Chairman

__________________________________
Jonathan L. Trout
Secretary-Treasurer